Sans Digital SATA Port Multiplier Mini-SAS

Sans Digital announced an affordable SATA PM over mini-SAS RAID storage system with the following new EliteSTOR models: ER208PS+BHP (2U 8-bay) and ER316PS+BSHP (3U 16-bay).

         ER316PS+BSHP

The SATA PM over mini-SAS rackmounts allow 8 or 16 SATA hard drives and is capable of pushing out a maximum bandwidth of up to 800+ MB/s bringing a sensible approach to cost, scalability, and performance.

In today’s high capacity DAS (direct attached storage) market, users have the choice of PM (port multiplier) storage solutions (JBOD enclosures connected to a HBA or a SAS expander solution. The PM to HBA arrangement is low cost and is typically capable of high capacity configuration but has the disadvantage of having limited expansion capabilities, lower RAID performance due to eSATA cables bandwidth, and no support for enclosure management functions. On the other hand, the SAS expander solution offers performance, enclosure management support, and storage expandability but comes at a higher cost than the PM storage solutions. This leaves IT administrators to make a decision on a high-cost, fast performing, expandable solution or a low-cost, non expandable, and limited monitoring storage solution.

Sans Digital is looking to revamp the DAS enclosure market by introducing a low cost, storage solution that includes RAID controller, enclosure management support, and a scalable storage with the new ER208PS+BHP and the ER316PS+BSHP.

These new enclosures with RAID card controller bundle, utilize port multiplier technology, but using 24Gb/s mini-SAS cable to overcome the disadvantage of traditional port multiplier products. The overall performance is increased from 100MB/s to over 800MB/s in RAID applications.

Both models also offer enclosure management capabilities including power supply, unit status and warnings, internal temperature monitoring and fan speed control. An environmental warning and alert system ensures user data accessibility while maintenance services regulate the health of storage devices with automatic repair functions.

The ER208PS+B supports up to eight HDDs using a single mini-SAS cable and comes bundled with a RAID controller card (HA-HIG-RR2711 single mini-SAS port RAID card, upgradable to a two mini-SAS port HA-HIG-RR2722 card for up to 16 drives).

The ER316PS+BSHP support up to sixteen HDDs with bundled controller card, upgradable to 32 drives. Optional redundant power supply is available for added protection over power supply failure.

"By introducing our new line of PM over mini-SAS enclosures, we aim to provide users the option to implement a fast performing, and secure storage enclosure while not sacrificing large capacity and only at a fraction of the cost of SAS expander enclosures," said Stanley Chan, director of Business Development of Sans Digital.

The Sans Digital EliteRAID series 2U 8 bay (ER208PS+BHP) and 3U 16 bay (ER316PS+BHP) PM over SAS storage are available with 3-year limited parts and labor warranty.